Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 115:5

They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

5, 6. They cannot teach their worshippers (Hab 2:19) or see their needs; they cannot hear prayers offered to them or smell the sweet savour of sacrifices. Jehovah, though He has no bodily form, can truly be said to speak (Isa 1:20) and see (Psa 113:6) and hear (Psa 6:8) and smell (Gen 8:21).

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

They have mouths … – They are shaped like people, but have none of the attributes of intelligent beings.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

For although the blind heathen are by their idolatrous priests made to believe otherwise concerning their idols, in regard of the spirits which they pretend to dwell in them, yet this is the truth of the matter, and confirmed by long and constant experience, that they are but vain and senseless things; they can neither

speak in answer to your prayers of inquiries, nor see what you do or what you want, nor hear your petitions, nor smell your incenses and sacrifices, nor handle or use their hands, either to take any thing from you, or to give any filing to you: nor so much as mutter, or give the least signification of their apprehension of your condition and concerns.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

They have mouths, but they speak not,…. These idols are carved with mouths, but they make no use of them; if any cry to them for they cannot answer them, nor save them from their troubles. Baal’s priests cried to their idol, but was no voice heard, nor answer returned; they are rightly called dumb idols, Hab 2:18

1Ki 18:26, but our God in the heavens, when his people cry to him, he answers them, and sends them relief; and tells them his grace is sufficient for them, and so they find it to be.

Eyes have they, but they see not; they are made with eyes in their heads, but cannot see with them; they cannot see their worshippers, nor what they bring to them; neither their persons nor their wants, Da 5:23, but our God and Father in heaven, he sees in secret the persons and hearts of his people; their desires are before him, and their groanings are not hid from him; his eyes are on the righteous, and are never withdrawn from them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

Ver. 5. They have mouths, but speak not ] Unless the devil haply speak in them, and by them, as at Delphos; or the false priests, as here, in times of Popery.

Eyes have they, but they see not ] And yet with wires and other devices they were made here once to goggle their eyes, to move their chaps apace, as well apaid when something of worth was presented them; as if otherwise, to look at eyes’ end, and to hang a lip.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

mouths = a mouth (singular)

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Reciprocal: Jer 10:5 – speak Jer 51:17 – Every Mar 8:18 – see Rom 1:23 – an image Rom 10:19 – foolish 1Co 12:2 – dumb Rev 13:15 – speak

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge